LIGO discovered gravitational waves from a binary black hole merger, marking the beginning of a new era in astrophysics. This revolutionary discovery challenged our understanding of compact objects, especially the formation of these massive binaries. In my talk I will describe how a common envelope phase aids in understanding the assembly of this merger. A common envelope phase occurs when, in a binary, one of the stars evolves and engulfs its companion (in this case a black hole). I will talk about how the flow around the embedded companion affects the inspiral and the fate of the binary. I will discuss the necessary conditions for disk assembly around the companion, and the possible implications for the LIGO binary black hole.